Improvement in railroad-signals



F. C, BOLTON & M. ADAMS.

Railroad-Signal. No. 163,446, Pate ntedMay18J87 5- UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

FESTUS G. BOLTON AND MICHEL ADAMS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD-SIGNALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16341416, dated May 18,1875; application filed February 15, 1875.

1' 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FEsTUs O. BoLToN and MICHEL ADAMS, of Cleveland, inthe county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Signals for Railway-Crossings; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

Our invention relates to an improved signal for railroad-crossings,designed for the purpose of informing travelers along the road of theapproach of a train.

It consists in two arms that are made to rise and fall through themedium of a tilting lever that is operated by the car-wheel, the saidlever being attached to or in the vicinity of the track.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan View of our improvedrailroad-crossing signal. Fig. 2 is a section of same, taken through thetwo arms.

A is the raiload-track. B is the tilting lever, located at, say, athousand feet or so from the said crossing. O is a shaft connecting thistilting lever with a segment-wheel, B, or its equivalent, to which isattached a cord or wire, or its equivalent, which passes from this pointto the signal. After passing around a pulley, D, whereby its directionis changed, this cord or wire passes up and is attached to a projectionor arm, E. This projection or arm is attached to a block, F, whichslides up and down in suitable guides. To this block is attached rigidlyan arm, G, with a hook, g, thereon. To the block F is also attached across-bar, H, which cross-bar passes through elongated slots t in thearms I, so that as the block F is drawn down by the cord or wire thecross-bar H causes the arms I to rise to a horizontal position. Asbefore stated, the arms are raised to this position by the wheels of apassing train pressing upon the tilting lever B; and as long as the armsremain in this horizontal position, persons are warned that a train isapproaching. K is a similar tilting lever located at the crossing oropposite to the signal. It is also arranged to be operated by the wheelsof a passing train of cars. At the other end of this tiltinglever is anupright hook or pawl, L, provided with a hook end, I. Thisis held in itsupright position by any suitable means-a spring, M, being shown in thedrawings for that purpose. When the block F descends by the action ofthe wheel upon the first lever B, its hook-arm Gr will descend, and itshook y will engage with the hook l on the arm or pawl L. This hook iswhat holds the arm I in the horizontal position. When the car arrivesopposite the si gnal it is no longer necessary togive a warning. Thewheel strikes the tilting lever K, which, in tilting, releases the hooklfrom the hook g, and the arms I fall by their own gravity. A tiltinglever, B, is located in a similar manner upon the other side of thecrossing, so that a train approaching from that direction would belikewise signaled at the crossin g. Both the tilting levers are sogeared with a wire or cord, 0, that they are operated only in onedirection, so that after a train has passed a crossing and comes incontact with the tilting lever in front of it, it will not operate thesignal. fecting this are not the only means that may be employed, butthey appear to be practicable. In order to relieve the cord or wire 0from the sudden strain that is thrown upon it when the car-wheel strikesthe tilting lever B, there may be any suitable device-as, for instance,a spring on the line of the cord-to relieve this sudden jerk, and yetcommunicate sufficient draft upon the block F that the arms will bethrown up into the horizontal posit-ion. Upon the ends of the arms Imay, if desired, be placed flags to assist in attracting attention. N isa post attached to the cross-bar. This post may bear a red or othercolored globe, l, at its top, so that when the cross-bar descends withthe block F, this colored globe will be brought down around a stationarylamp located in any suitable position. In this way a signal or alarm maybe given at night.

What we claim as our invention is-- 1. The railroad-crossing signal,consisting of the combination, with the pivoted arms I, cord or wire 0,and tilting lever B, of the The means shown for ef-.

block F and cross-bar H, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the arms I and mechanism for elevating them,substantially as described, of the block F, projecting arm G, andspring-hook L, for retaining the said arms in their horizontal position,substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the hook g and the spring-hook L, of thetilting lever K, arranged to be operated by the car-wheels, whereby thearms I are released, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, with the block F, of the cross-bar H, post N, andthe colored shade, whereby the said shade may be brought down around alight when the arms are elevated, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FESTUS O. BOLTON. MICHEL ADAMS. Witnesses:

FRANCIS ToMNEY, H. T. HOWES.

